Ash Vortices On Mt. Kīlauea, Fascinating Puahiohio’ Explained

Article excerpt

Volcanic dust devils swirled across Mt. Kīlauea this weekend, creating a rare spectacle of rotating ash columns that scientists call puahiohio, Hawaiian for "whirlwind of ash." These volcano-nados form when hot ash from fresh lava interacts with cooler surrounding air, generating thermal instability similar to terrestrial dust devils. The rotating vortices can reach significant heights and intensity, though they remain far less powerful than true tornadoes. The phenomenon, while visually striking, offers researchers a window into the complex fluid dynamics occurring in active volcanic zones and how volcanic materials behave under extreme temperature gradients.